St. Louis streetcars
The Great Society subway : a history of the Washington Metro
Zachary M. Schrag.
Baltimore : Johns Hopkins University Press, 2006.
Schrag (history, George Mason U.) sets the development of the Washington Metro in historical and political context. His examination of the general planning, routing decisions, station architecture, funding decisions, land-use impacts, and behavior of Metro riders, among other topics, does not attempt to deny some of the utilitarian and quantitative economic criticisms that have been leveled against the system, but it does conclude that as "a symbol of urbanity, a preserver of neighborhoods, a work of beauty, a political unifier, a shaper of space, and a meeting ground," Metro helps achieve some of the visions of Peter L'Enfant, the city's original planner, and the liberals of the Great Society era. Annotation ©2006 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
Transit villages in the 21st century
Michael Bernick, Robert Cervero.
New York : McGraw-Hill, c1997.
Design tomorrow's transit villages today. Now you can see first-hand how such goundbreaking transit villages as Mission Valley station in San Diego and Ballston Station in northern Virginia are setting a new standard in urban development. In Transit Villages in the 21st Century, by Michael S. Bernick and Robert Burke Cervero, you'll see how to design efficient, environmentally friendly transit communities that hug metropolitan rail systems to reduce gridlock and spur growth. It shows you how to handle everything from transportation and real estate development to zoning, site planning and master planning. . .develop pedestrian access, mixed-use environments and diversified housing. . .create a ``sense of place'' in these unique communities. . .and much more. You also get detailed case studies showing how you can apply recent transit village successes in the U.S., Sweden, Canada and other countries.
Subway : the empire beneath New York's streets
Transit Gloria Mundi Productions in association with A&E Networks, Hearst/ABC/NBC ; producer/director, Carl Schultz ; writers, Carl Schults and Dan Booth.
New York : A&E Home Video ; Marketed in the US by New Video Group, c1994
- VHS.
- Producer/director, Carl Schultz ; writers, Carl Schultz and Dan Booth.
- Host, narrator, Jack Perkins.
- Story of New York City subway system and what makes it work. Includes a look underground at the technology, and information on experimental cars, the financial secrets of the system, construction miracles, and more
On July 4, 1859 the first streetcar route was opened by the Missouri Railway Company. It ran east-west on Olive Street from Fourth and Tenth Streets. Soon other companies were laying tracks in different parts of the city. They were required to pay personal property tax on every wire, track, and pole in the street and they had to pave and maintain the space between the track and a portion on either side of it.
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Future trolley service
Trolley service may be available in the future for St. Louis. METRO completed a feasibility study showing that a trolley service would improve traffic and parking in the loop, stimulate economic development, and is likely to be a hit with tourists.
There would be 2.2 miles of track connecting Forest Park and The Loop to the two MetroLink Stations at Forest Park and Delmar Loop. |
| Citizens for Modern Transit |
| The Loop Trolley Company |
One of many streetcar manufacturing plants was started by German immigrant and wood craftsman, Frederick Brownell. He became so set in his ways he was unwilling to change any part of his design. J.H. Kobusch, his financial backer, and Peter Kling, the plant supervisor, saw this as an opportunity and started the St. Louis Car Company.
The St. Louis Car Company, existing from 1887–1973, was located at 3023 North Broadway. Before anyone knew it orders were coming in from across the country and around the globe. The St. Louis Car Company became the biggest streetcar builder in the world.
In the 1920's ridership was falling and buses were brought in to help expand routes and cut the cost of labor. Bus operators were not charged to drive on streets and highways that were maintained by taxpayers. So as street lines began to deteriorate, companies replaced the car lines with buses.
The construction of Highway I-70 threatened and ended service to many street lines. The last St. Louis streetcar route ended May 21, 1966 on the Hodiamont line.
Have you ever wonder about the differnece between a trolley or streetcar? There is no difference, they both have steel wheels and run on rails.
Article by: St. Louis Public Library staff.
